Friday, October 9, 2015

This past summer, the kids participated on a swim team. Hyrum started swimming last year, but took a break for football and then rejoined the team in June. Ben and Emmy decided to join in July.

Hyrum was able to participate in a couple of swim meets during the summer. Hyrum did such a wonderful job. The particular event that he swam the most was the 50 back. He even qualified for regions with his time! However, he got disqualified for an illegal turn. He actually was disqualified a couple of times during various meets. We look at these opportunity as a time for learning correct habits and technique of swimming.

The whole family went in July to cheer him on at his regional meet. He did a wonderful job! We were so proud of him.

At the end of the summer the kids had a swimming banquet and even received some awards for their participation on the team. Emmy received the sunshine award for being always happy and friendly to others. Ben received the best dry land performance award. Dry land is when the swimmers do exercises on land to help them be a better swimmer. Hyrum received the award, "Is there dry land today?" Hyrum wasn't a big fan of dry land, but he stuck with it and continued to improve and be better.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

One of the things the kids really enjoy doing each summer is having a bike wash.
The kids fill up buckets with soap and water. The kids make sure to ride their bikes through the muddle puddles on our road to make them nice and dirty! The kids then line up their bikes to get them all washed down and clean!

I only took one picture of their grand adventures with the water, mud and bikes.

One of our favorite part of the festivities, for the Fourth of July in Blanding, is the dollar dive and swim races.

The kids were anxious to participate and were ready to go for the dollar dives. Since we had practically lived at the pool during the summer, the kids were very comfortable in the water.

Lucy even participated a little bit this more this year than last year and ended up with a few quarters.
Lucy insisted on wearing her goggles for the dollar dive, but she never put them over her eyes...silly girl!

Emmy and Ben's age group was next for the dive for dollars.

Ben did a great job and ended up with a few dollars.

I didn't even see Emmy before the dive for money. She was able to find the most money out of my kids.

Hyrum went last and found a great amount of money too.

Next, was the swim races.

Emmy took third and Ben took second in their age group (they had girls and boys race together).

Hyrum won his heat and then he had to swim immediately after he his first swim for the finals. He took third and did an awesome job.

I was so proud of my kids and how well they did in the races. They swam hard, had good form and had fun.

Quote of the Week

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly."-President Thomas S Monson

Sisters, there is something inspiring and sublime about the little forget-me-not flower. I hope it will be a symbol of the little things that make your lives joyful and sweet. Please never forget that you must be patient and compassionate with yourselves, that some sacrifices are better than others, that you need not wait for a golden ticket to be happy. Please never forget that the “why” of the gospel of Jesus Christ will inspire and uplift you. And never forget that your Heavenly Father knows, loves, and cherishes you.—President Dieter F. Uchtdorf